Big 33 Inaugural Inspirational Coach of the Year Award

The Big 33 Scholarship Foundation, Inc. has instituted a new award in 2005.  The award is entitled the Inspirational Coach of the Year Award and is sponsored by Barley Snyder, Attorney's-At-Law.

The 2005 Inspirational Coach-of-the Year Award will be awarded to Springdale’s Don “Pappy” Boulton.

Boulton, the Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for the Dynamos was nominated by his head coach, Chuck Wagner, and will be honored at the Big 33 Honors Banquet on Friday, July 22, right after the PSFCA Hall of Fame inductees are recognized.

“Pappy” is extremely active in the education of today’s youth and has been recognized and honored for contributions that he made to the education of our nation’s youth and acknowledged for excellence as a distinguished educator in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.  He was nominated two times in three years (2002 & 2004)

He is a member and currently Vice Chairman of Calvary Lutheran Church in Arnold, PA and serves as President of the Church Council.

“Pappy” has also been a member of Gideon’s International for the past seven years and is the past president of their local camp and currently Membership Chairman.

He also handles the inspirational and motivational tee shirt reward program every year.  His responsibility involves the designing, ordering, and  distribution of shirts as earned by each player.

“Pappy” puts out a weekly “Pappy Sez” newsletter to the football team every Thursday prior to each game to further motivate the players to put forth their best effort.

He also developed a colorful “game-by-game” goal chart that is hung in the locker room, and he initiated, with Coach Wagner’s approval, the game-by-game helmet “Pride” sticker awards.

“Pappy” initiated the “Pappy’s Boot Camp” program during pre-season to further impress upon his players the need for pre-season conditioning.

He has also promoted bonding amongst his players by inviting them to his home for Wednesday night dinners and to review scouting film. There are times when over 30 players attend the dinners with “Pappy” and his wife, Joan

Coach Boulton also works daily at the high school as the In School Suspension Coordinator and is recognized by the school administration and staff as a valuable asset in the area of discipline and interrelations with students.

He also acts as a liaison between the football staff and the Springdale Football Boosters organization for addressing the needs of the players.

He leads the linemen in the North Hills Lineman Challenge and the Pine-Richland Linemen Challenge, and he heads the agility room in the off season.

“Pappy” grew up in Oakmont and played with Wagner through high school and then Kiski Prep.  He was head coach at Deer Lakes High School in the ‘60’s when Wagner was head coach at Oakmont.  He left coaching to go into the insurance industry where he proved to be very successful and was well note for his inspirational talks that motivated the members of his organization.  After leaving the insurance industry,  he joined his childhood pal (Wagner) at Springdale and immediately helped the Dynamos turn around a program that was struggling at the time (13 wins and 139 losses over a 15-year period).

Since joining the Springdale staff, “Pappy” has help to contribute to the Dynamo’s earning three trips to the WPIAL playoffs and a WPIAL title in 2003.

He has been praised by many people including the principal at Springdale, Janice E. Nuzzo, who stated, “Pappy” has mastered the gift of helping students see their own worth on and off the field.  He relentlessly encourages his students to be team players, be proud (but not boastful), and always play like they have never played before.  He is an excellent role model whose honesty and integrity earn him the mutual respect he receives from his peers and the students he interacts with.”

Coach Wagner summed it the best when he stated, “There is no question in my mind that we would have not risen to the height that our Springdale High School Football Program has without the presence of Don “Pappy” Boulton.  If any coach deserves an award for Inspirational Coach of the Year, Pappy surely does!”

Congratulations to Don "Pappy" Boulton on his winning the very first Inspirational Coach of the Year award!

Go Dynamos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!